Machine for forming and laying continuous drain-pipes



(Nd Model.)

W. HAMLET.

g and Laying Continuous Drain Pipes.

Patented Sept. '1, I880.

Machine for Pormin N EI'ERS, K TD-Llnt GIMP ER. WASHXN TON UNITED ST TESWILLIAM HAMLET, OF

,PATENT OFFICE.

,ZMERUED, CALIFORNIA.

MACHINE FOR FORMING AND LAiYlNG CONTINUOUS DRAIN-PIPES.

t l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,908, datedSeptember 7, 1880, Application filed Maylbli, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HAMLE'I, of the city and county of Merced,in the State of California, have invented an Improved Machine iorForming and Laying Continuous DrairrPipe; and I do hereby declare thatthe following; is a full, clear, and exact. description thereof,reference being bad to the aceompanyi ing drawings.

My invention relates to certain improvements in that class of machinesfor forming and laying cement pipe in which the machine is made to moveover the ground on which. the pipe is to be laid, so as to make acontinuous pipe without breaks or joints.

Usually a trench or ditch is first made, and

the mach.neopcrated in it so as to make and lay the pipe in the ditch.In this class of machines the pipe is formed by means of a pistonworking in a cylinder in which the cement is supplied. hole in thecenter of the pipe, and the pressure of the piston, as fresh cement isadded, forces the machineibrward, leavingthe complete solid pipe lyingin the track of the machine.

Heretot'ore a simple lever has been used for giving to the piston therequired reciprocating motion in the cylinder, and no means wereprovided for giving a positive feed of cementinto the cylinder.

The first of these devices I have improved, and the latter I haveprovided, and in addition to these I have made several important andvaluable improvements, which are calculated to facilitate the operationand improve the character of the pipe, all as hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy improved ma chine. Fig.2 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3is atransverse section across the end of the machine through the line a-:r, Fig. 2.

Let A represent the tube or cylinder in which the pipe is formed.

B is the feed-tube, through which the ocment is conducted intothe tubein front of the reciprocating piston O.

The core (I, which forms the central hole in the cement pipe, ispermanently secured in the center of the cylinder A, in front of theopening through which the cement enters the cyl- A core in the cylinderforms the I inder,by means of thin plates 0 c, which stand lengthwise ofthe tube, so that as the cement is forced through the tube by the pistonit will surround the core, and after it passes the thin Iconnecting-plates e c the pressure will cause it to unite and form asolid pipe with a central hole.

It will be noticed that when the piston is drawn back a clear andunobstructed space is left between it and the core for the cement todrop into from the feed'tube above, so that the i next stroke of thepiston will force the cement directly through the tube and against thecore. The end, of the core is made conical, so as to facilitate thepassage of the cement.

: n'ovement, I will now describe the other feature, which relates to thedevice for reciprocatin g the piston and applying the power for 5condensing the cement and forming the pipe. For this purpose I employjointed or toggle levers f g, which are operatedby two cranks. 3 IL, anda crank-shaft, 1. The forward end of 1 the toggle-lever f is pivoted tothe center of the piston, while its rear end is pivoted to the lever g,which is pivoted to the head of the tube A. A pitman or connecting-rod,j, connects the crank with the toggle-levers at the joint or middle, sothat at each revolution of the crankshaft the piston is drawn back andforward.

By this means I operate the piston by a rotary or crank motion, which ismuch, easier operated than a reciprocatinglever, and I employ two cranksfor the application of the .power. By interposing the toggle-leverbetween the crank and piston I provide a gradually-increasing leverageas the piston moves forward, so that the latter end of the stroke iscapable of exerting an immense power for condensing the cement andforcing the machine forward. This is a greatimprovement in this class ofmachines.

For convenience in operating this crankshaft I provide a seat, K, forthe operator, and

foot-rests l l, on the machine, in a convenient position, so that theoperator can ride and turn the cranks, thus adding his weight to thepressure of the machine. machine when it is thus operated, I hinge toeach side of the cylinder A a thin runner, m, which can be turned downto steady the ma Having described the first feature of my im- In orderto steady the chine when the operator is riding, or turned up over thecylinder when the operator desires to walk and operate the machine.

In making small-sized pipe the operator will have to walk, as the pipewill not be strong enough to sustain the extra pressure, but in makinglarge and heavy pipe his Weight will be an advantage. This, however,will be regulated by the character of the pipe to be laid and the natureand character of the ground over which the machine is to pass.

0 is a curved bar which is hinged to the frontend of the machine, whichcan be dropped upon the ground in front and serve as a brake to preventthe machine from moving too fast and breaking the pipe, and to increasethe pressure upon the piston. This brake is used when the operator iswalking and working the machine, and when not required is turned up overthe front of the machine. his foot upon this brake when it is turneddown on the ground the friction can be increased at will, so as toincrease the pressure upon the piston.

Another difficulty heretofore encountered in this class of machines isthat the cement would not feed quick enough through the feedpipe B whenthe piston was withdrawn. To remedy this I make a slot in the tube nearits lower end, througlrwhich a cutter-plate, 1), passes. This plate Isecure in the slot by a pin, and I connect it by a lever, q, with thepitmanj, so that as the pitman is moved up and down by the crank thecutter-plate will be simultaneously operated up and down in the feedtubeby the same movement. This cuts the cement in the tube, the downwardmotion of the cutter occurring as the piston recedes, so that it notonly keeps the cement loose but also forces it down into the cylinder.By means By pressing of the above improvements I render the machine muchmore effective and more convenient tooperate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the cylinder A, having a feed-tube, B, and afixed cone or core, d, disposed centrally in the cylinder, of the pistonG and cutter 12, connected to the pistonlever q, substantially asspecified.

4. In a machine for making and laying in place a continuous cement pipe,the combination, with the cylinder A, of the hinged side boards orrunners, m, for the purpose set forth.

5. The tube or cylinder A, provided with side runners, m, and havingtheseat Kand footrests l l, in combination with the cranks 1th andintermediate connections for operating the piston to condense the cementand force the machine forward, substantially as specified.

6. In a machine for making and laying in place a continuous cement pipe,the hinged brake or shoe 0, for the purpose described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

F. CLARK, WM. F. SMITH.

